In 1915, the city of Houston adopted the design for its official municipal flag: "one lone white star, floating in a sea of azure blue and bearing on its surface the original seal of the city of Houston." Based on a design by railroad retiree W.A. Wheeldon, the flag first took shape as a prototype created by the Levy Bros. department store, which was then used as a model for a 10-by-12-foot silk banner carried in that year's Independence Day parade.

Now, a century later, Preservation Houston will present the restored 1915 flag prototype to the city of Houston — and you're invited to join us. The event will begin shortly after 6 p.m. Monday, March 7, in the auditorium of the Julia Ideson library building, 550 McKinney Avenue. Admission is free and open to the public.

The program will include a brief talk by textile conservator Jessica Hack, who restored the flag, followed by a ceremony and reception in the Ideson Building's Tudor Gallery. Members of the Houston Saengerbund, the city's oldest musical association, will be on hand to perform the rarely heard Houston Municipal Song, which was adopted along with the flag.

The prototype flag was donated to Preservation Houston by Frank Descant, who inherited it from family members and collectors Frank and Sam Daidone. PH raised funds to have the flag restored, with a final grant coming last year from the North American Vexillological Association.

Parking information: Street parking is free downtown from 6 p.m. Paid parking will be available in the garage beneath the Houston Public Library's Jones Building at 500 McKinney (enter the garage from Lamar) and in the 1100 Smith Garage, which is located directly across Lamar from the Ideson Building.